Discardable lighter

ABSTRACT

A housing for a lighter, chiefly a discardable lighter, comprising a first case adapted to enclose the lighter body and a second case adapted to enclose the igniting mechanism on the body. The second case is provided with lugs to be fitted with slight friction between the first case and the lighter body within the latter, while openings in the second case afford a passage for the ignition-controlling wheel in the mechanism and for the flame produced by the lighter.

United States I Patent [191 Lefebvre DISCARDABLE LIGHTER [76] Inventor: Pierre Lefebvre, 55, rue de Turhigo,

75 Paris 3e, France [22] Filed: Aug. 15, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 388,643

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Apr. 17, 1973 France 73.13885 [52] US. Cl. 431/143; 431/254; 431/277 [51] Int. Cl. F23Q 2/00 [58] Field of Search 431/142, 143, 254, 276, 431/277 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,996,907 8/1961 Zahan .J 431/143 3,122,907 3/1964 Gilberton 431/143 July 22, 1975 3/1970 Retzler 431/142 3,498,734 3,709,655 1/1973 Beijering ..431/143 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 3/1964 Switzerland 431/143 Primary Examiner-Carroll B. Dority, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or FirmHaseltine, Lake & Waters [57] ABSTRACT A housing for a lighter, chiefly a discardable lighter, comprising a first case adapted to enclose the lighter body and a second case adapted to enclose the ignit- 3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUL 2 2 ms SHEET 2 FIG. 5

E/ s V? V 5 6 v 11 wk fn DISCARDABLE LIGHTER Discardable lighters are presently known which include a body enclosing a liquified gas and carrying at its upper end an igniting mechanism. Such lighters have the advantage of being practical in use, but they are unaesthetic.

The present invention has for its object to provide a housing for such a lighter, which housing may be easily fitted over the lighter and ensures a highly attractive ornamental appearance for the lighter.

According to the invention, this housing includes two cases, the shape and size of which register with those of the lighter body and of the ignition mechanism thereon respectively; one case is provided with openings through which the flame and the ignitioncontrolling wheel can pass and it is furthermore rigid with lugs adapted to be inserted between the lighter body and the other case, so as to hold both cases fast over the lighter.

There is described hereinafter by way of example and by no means in a limiting sense a preferred embodiment of such an improved housing. In the accompanying drawings illustrating this embodiment:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a lighter adapted to be enclosed in the housing;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views of the two housing cases respectively; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the housing enclosing the lighter; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken through the lighter with the housing fitted thereon.

FIG. 1 shows a discardable lighter adapted to be enclosed in a housing. Said lighter includes a body 1 the cross-section of which is oval-shaped and which contains an amount of Iiquified gas. The upper end of said body carries the igniting mechanism constituted by a support 3 secured to said body 1 and on which is revolvably fitted an ignition-controlling serrated wheel 4. The support 3 also carries a pivotal fingeroperable lever 5 the operation of which controls the admission of gas into a nozzle, not illustrated. Another serrated or knurled wheel 6 projects through a notch in the upper end of the outer surface of the body 1 and serves for adjusting the output of gas. Its projection with reference to the body 1 and to the support 3 is slight.

The actual lighter housing includes a first case 7 whose cross-section and size correspond to those of the outer surface of the body 1, so that the latter may be enclosed entirely within the case with its upper edge flush with that of the case. The upper end of case 7 is notched at 7a, so as to afford a passage for the knurled adjusting wheel 6.

The housing includes furthermore a second covershaped case 8 the shape and size of which correspond to those of the support 3, which latter may thus engage with slight friction the inside of the case 8. The case 8 is provided with an opening 9 adapted to enter a position in vertical registry with the lighter nozzle, so as to allow the flame to emerge, the case 8 having a further opening 10 for the passage of the serrated wheel 4 and of the lever 5. The case 8 is extended downwardly by two lugs 11, slightly shifted inwardly.

In order to cover the lighter with the housing, the case 8 is first fitted over the support 3, after which said case 8 rigid with the entire lighter is fitted within the other case 7. The lugs 11 are thus clamped between the lighter body 1 and the case 7 whereby the case 8 carrying the lugs 11 is safely held fast in position. On the other hand, the case 7 is itself held fast by said lugs which cause it to fit slidingly with slight friction over the body 1.

Obviously, my invention should not be considered as limited to the above described embodiment as illustrated and all the modifications thereof falling within the scope of the accompanying claims should be considered as forming part of my invention.

What I claim is:

1. A disconnectable housing for a lighter having a body and an igniting mechanism carried by said body and provided with a flame-generating serrated wheel, said housing comprising first and second cases, the first case being adapted to enclose said body and the second case being adapted to enclose said igniting mechanism, the second case including depending lugs positioned to be slidingly fitted with slight friction between the first case and said body to hold the lighter fast with respect to both said cases, the second case being provided with an opening for the passage of a flame and an opening for the flame-generating serrated wheel.

2. A housing as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lugs are shifted slightly inwardly on said second case.

3. A housingas claimed in claim 2 wherein said first and second cases are flush with one another when fitted on said lighter. 

1. A disconnectable housing for a lighter having a body and an igniting mechanism carried by said body and provided with a flame-generating serrated wheel, said housing comprising first and second cases, the first case being adapted to enclose said body and the second case being adapted to enclose said igniting mechanism, the second case including depending lugs positioned to be slidingly fitted with slight friction between the first case and said body to hold the lighter fast with respect to both said cases, the second case being provided with an opening for the passage of a flame and an opening for the flame-generating serrated wheel.
 2. A housing as claimed in claim 1 wherein said lugs are shifted slightly inwardly on said second case.
 3. A housing as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first and second cases are flush with one another when fitted on said lighter. 